Happy National Day! Hope that fortune is smiling on you and your horses today, and to show appreciation for the support we’ve had during our successful season together, here’s a preview covering every horse in the big event for free. Let’s gamble responsibly, be as civil as possible (although I won’t be), and wish for all horses and jockeys back safely! For those who can’t digest the whole read, there’s a podcast preview on iTunes (top episode) https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/horses-for-courses/id1097348167?mt=2&mc_cid=ea202223fa&mc_eid=029390c1a4 & https://soundcloud.com/hfcpodcast/the-greatest-race-of-them-all. Enjoy! The Grand National, the world’s most famous steeplechase, has long given rise to legend and many famous stories. Think of Red Rum galloping into the hearts of Liverpool and the Nation. Crisp galloping for all of Australia and making the biggest of fences look like stepping stones. Aldanti beating the impossible to make himself a filmstar. Foinavon making the fence and the race his own. Devon Loch snatching defeat form the jaws of victory. Corbiere doing it for the girls. The race that never was – twice – Ginger’s comeback.

The 30 fences, four and a half miles and nearly ten minutes are ideally geared towards making legends and a second win for Many Clouds would catapult him into the history books and the Nations’s hearts. And what’s to say he can’t? Luck in running and the usual caveats apply but everything seems to be in his favour. A gutsy winner last year, he had undergone a very unorthodox preparation, winning the Hennessey and Betbright Cup in hard fought and gutsy success before finishing sixth in the Gold Cup and then coming here with 11-9. After becoming one of the youngest winners every, there has only been one single target since for him and he arrives today having had the perfect preparation. After a pipe opener in the Charlie Hall he gave 5lbs when a close second to Don Poli and was a solid second in the Betbright Chase; he warmed up by winning the Premier Chase at Kelso by 10 lengths. He is gone up only 5lbs for all those efforts on ratings and carries only 1lb more. He arrives seemingly in perfect condition, won’t care about the ground, has been there and done it before and is going to go off shorter than 9/1. Bet Victor pay six places and give 8/1, and that price is worth taking. While we’re at it, why not have last year’s second Saint Are as well? It was touch and go for Tom George’s charge to get into this year’s event but he has done by two places and he’s gone up just 3lbs for last year’s effort. Since then he’s had just the three runs, two of them clear sharpeners for this, one when making yet another successful round over these fences when seventh in the Bencher, and post weights release he went and won at Doncaster. It’s hard, all things considered, not to see a big effort with a clear round although rain staying away would help. JP McManus has won both races over the National fences and his Gallant Oscar looks a ready-made natural for the race. Progressive ever since being a winner of the Leinster National, he was closing hand over fist to take third in last year’s Ultima Handicap Chase and while he was too lowly rated to get in but bolted up at the Punchestown Festival afterwards and was coming into the Paddy Power Chase nicely when he unseated coming into the straight. A nice effort over hurdles and a staying on effort at Naas in the Leinster National should have set him up just right for this and he’s surely capable of going well. Last but never least in terms of the main portfolio is Morning Assembly.

The rising quality of the race has seen better horses to come to the fore recently and past Grade 1 winners taking a bigger and bigger hand in proceedings has become the norm – Neptune Collognes is a fine example of this. A past RSA third, he came back from two years off the track with a strong second in a conditions chase when he gave nearly a stone to the runner up and there was no shame in being beaten 11 lengths by Smashing. At the Cheltenham Festival he travelled well into the straight before fading into fourth in the Ultima Handicap Chase. That was a fine preparation for this today and perhaps the slower ground will play to his strengths for the well handicapped nine year old. Second that day was Holywell, who ran a fine race returned to the ground that suits him so well when travelling like the winner but being unable to give weight away to a well handicapped novice. He should go well, although he has to have a dry night and day and has hit a couple of fences in most of his major races. Third in the Bowl last year for Jonjo O’Neill, he still has very strong claims and a fine handicap mark. Jonjo also has Shutthefrontdoor, the winner of the Irish National in 2014 who travelled like the winner until the straight last year as favourite to send Tony McCoy off with a final winner. He travelled well, perhaps too well for his own good, and the vibes are strong for a horse with the same mark, although he will need to settle perfectly to get the trip this time around as his stamina gave way badly when push came to shove last year. Those who want a really big price must consider Vics Canvas. Under Ruby Walsh he crept into the Beet365 Gold Cup and took a fine second, before finishing a close filth in Becher when he would have been more involved over the trip today. One can cur his next two efforts from the record, and it is worth nothing that his best run over the last year has come on the soundest surface. Bet Victor pay 6 places and offer 100/1, a staggering concession for those who want a big priced flyer. That could be a serious problem for Silivinaco Conti, who loves it around here but has often appeared to be at the end of his tether over 3 miles, albeit in top company. He was impressive in the Ascot Chase but it now appears that he didn’t beat much that day and he is hard to trust. The Last Samuri, twice a winner of strong handicap chases this season, is deserving of second favouritism and has a wonderful chance. His victory at Kempton has worked out quite well, and the amount of ground he made up late in a well-run race suggested that this may well be right up his street, and he confirmed that impression when bolting up in the Grimthrope at Doncaster, coming right away on a rain softened surface from The Druids Nephew. He’s obviously a massive player.

The Druids Nephew was going as well as anything when coming down in front last year and has been aimed solely at this since, with two runs that can be forgotten simply before a nice effort behind the The Last Samuri at Doncaster when he’d have been at less of a fever pitch and would have bene less in love with the ground than the winner that day. The negatives for him that mean he doesn’t make the on the day portfolio are the rain softened ground and a 9lbs higher mark, but it would be no surprise to see him make amends. Scottish National second Gooneyella is going to have loved every drop that’s hit the course, and it’s worth remembering that he was second in a good ground Scottish National off just 3lbs lower, but the softer the better so backers should watch the rain forecasts as much as possible. He has been given every chance by the handicapper, although laying up with the van was tough for him in the Becher. Nina Carberry is a fine replacement for Ruby Walsh on Sir Des Champs but how much of his old ability the former Gold Cup second retains remains to be seen and he didn’t exactly convince in either the Lexus or the Hennessy Gold Cup. Uncello Conti has run two good races for Gordon Elliot in the Paddy Power and Thyestes, when he got what could be called a questionable ride in the latter occasion. He’s more interesting than most with Daryl Jacob on board and can be trusted to go well. A distant 10th in this in 2014 at the tender age, Kruzhlinin is now a different horse having since left Donald McCain for the Phillip Hobbs yard, as a deeply impressive return win over Le Reve at Kempton in January would indicate. It’s no surprise that he was strongly fancied to land the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Festival, but he jumped very poorly going onto the final circuit and he’s made bad mistakes in his previous runs here. Unioniste is very interesting. A strong staying second behind Many Clouds at Kelso, he’s now 12lbs better off for that and this is a historically sound mark; He won the December Gold Cup as a four year old off 6lbs lower and raced in last year’s race off 159. His third behind Le Reve at Sandown in February was another sound effort and he also won easily at Kelso before finishing second to Many Clouds. The more rain the better again for him. Boston Bob is very interesting. A four time Grade 1 winner, he showed great guts to win the Bobbyjo when getting the best of his stablemate On His Own; He will be a little more-well weighted, and looks as likely a stayer as anything on pretty much all the evidence we’ve seen. A sound jumper, you can do much worse. O’Faolins Boy won the RSA in 2014 and has been bought back in good style by Rebecca Curtis, trashing a useful runner up at Newbury Conditions Chase. He’s since not been quite the same, although he went swimmingly for a long way in the Gold Cup since. He’s on a fair mark but has something to prove. Triolo D’Alene has won the Topham (2013) and Hennessy (same year) but since had several wind problems and relapsed when miles behind in the Ascot Chase last time. Onenightinvienna’s earlier form this season makes a mark of 149 look very lenient indeed, although his blowout last time is unaccounted for. Inexperience is the main worry for him given that he’s had just the four chase runs but he must be seriously respected with Philipp Hobbs having sent him. The Romford Pele has gone under the radar since thrashing his opppostion in the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter two years ago, but he caught the eye when staying on soundly into seventh over 3m3f at Cheltenham in November. Dropped in trip since, he’s always looked to be going ufurther and ran a fine race in the Coral Cup over 2m5f ion fast ground at Cheltenham. This trip will be a godsend and so will a dry night although he has some form on heavy. Just a Par will stay – he won the Bet365 Gold Cup last year and took the length of the straight to do so – and has prepared for this quietly. The worry is that he was behind when he was pulled up in the Becher Chase last winter and making up the ground can get hard around here so he must lay up. Buywise ran another decent race when third in the SkyBet Chase but coming from as far back as he does can be difficult and his jumping is a huge worry. First Lieutenant is in better form than last year when a remote 16th but he’s also 5lbs higher and hasn’t won a chase against more than seven rivals. Wonderful Charm ran a great race over the Mildmay in the race before this last April, but he needs to find more from a handicapping point of view if he’s to come here. Rule The World’s Irish National second reads well in this context and he caught the eye despite being a maiden over fences. Ballynagour was second in the Bowl last year and returned in good style in the Charlie Hall but has been woefully out of form since. He was a bit better when he finished seventh at Cheltenham but he still looks high. Gilgamboa’s Ryanair fifth was a fine effort and so was his Paddy Power fourth but he has never looked like a stayer and the trip is a hug e worry. Soll burst a blood vessel when ninth last year and has been in good heart since but he’s now rated 152 and that mark could be high. On His Own has plenty of high class form but has never really appeared to like this course, falling twice in 2012 and 2013. Le Reve’s great efforts may have left him a bit high in the weights based on his fifth at Kempton in February. Hadrian’s Approach was seventh behind him but has actually got much more going for him, having taken the Bet365 Gold Cup in the last strides in 2014. He has not been on the track much since but races off the same mark and jumps better nowadays in the main too, so could easily outrun 66/1 quotes. Black Thunder now has the assistance of Sam Waley-Cohen in the plate which is a major bonus and he looked like he’d be a great national horse as a novice, but he has failed to recover that form in the last 12 months. Balleycasey was enjoying himself when being bought down in this last year but his stamina has failed him before. Pendra struggled off his revised mark when trying to follow up October’s Ascot win and now steps up another notch here. Rocky Creek was fifth in 2014 but dire last year and has since struggled badly this winter. Katenko has nor run a good race since January 2014 and doesn’t look well handicapped; Vieux Lion Rouge didn’t get home in the National Hunt Chase; Double Ross looks too high in the weights and unlikely to stay; Aachen stole a valuable Cheltenham handicap in December with a great ride and then ran Soll to half a length, but has since failed to repeat that, ad Home Farm may have a chance if repeating his 2013 Irish National effort.

Pounding headache? Hoarse throat? Random outbursts of feeling, positive or negative? Flashbacks? All of the above? You must be feeling the Cheltenham Festival hangover. The week after it all started, jump racing fans are left with two choices. Wallow in pity, or pick ourselves up and move forward to the bonanza that awaits racing fans, jump or flat.

The Irish Grand National is around the corner, and the big race itself is not far away either. But if you can’t wait until then and are keen for some gambling action, there are a wide selection of casino games available online. Even if there’s no drama on the racecourse there’s plenty happening online 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. There are plenty of games available, and you’ll be sure to find one that meets your need for exciting gambling action.

When the Aintree meeting starts on 7 April you’ll need to be prepared so here’s some preview and analysis to get you started on Day 1.

Manifesto Novices’ Chase (1.40)

A race with a very short history. Each running has been won by a runner who ran at the Cheltenham Festival and the race usually has a small field. It can often be a rematch between the those who ran in the JLT Novices Chase – although the race has twice been won by Arkle runners. Speaking this week, Graham Wylie suggested that Black Hercules, a winner of the JLT, would be seen here next. A price of 7/4 – like all in this piece, taken from Paddy Power – is fair enough based on what he did, although this track would not suit him as well as Cheltenham by any stretch of the imagination and the way that L’Ami Serge went to the front suggested that he was more speed than stamina. He’d be very interesting if sent for a rematch, along with Bristol De Mai. Three Musketeers would surely be more suited by this track, but he ran on like a horse who wanted even further at the Festival and he is hard to pin down at this moment in time. Garde La Victoire and Outlander, who fell, would be interesting too although they may go to Punchestown. Of those who missed the Festival, Tea for Two comes to mind although whether connections are thinking the same remains to be seen and it’s hard to think of too many others stepping up in trip.

Anniversary Hurdle (2.15)

The record of Triumph Hurdle winners – or the best horse from the Triumph – is mixed, 1121212713 (6-4-10) – so it’s a race to be treated with caution given how tough the Triumph can be. The flat course and likely good ground will suit Triumph winner Ivanovich Gorbatov down to the ground, but I’d be cautious about taking 6/4 on him given that he could easily go to Punchestown and in any case, Zarkandar was the last horse to do the double. The Fred Winter has begun proving itself to be a useful guide to this event and if we take it on trust that fallers Campeador and Voix Du Reve would have been involved in the finish, then we have four useful juveniles who could be involved. Diego Du Charmil would be the pick of the Nicholls pair who went 1-2, on account of the fact that he travelled the best and by quite some way. However Campeador, who travelled well but was too keen on his Irish debut at Christmas behind Apple’s Jade before fading, was going at least as well as Voix Du Reve under 11-9 before crashing out. If he were to stay on his feet this time this speed test may well bring out the best in him and he has to be given a serious amount of respect. Zubayr, far too keen in the Triumph, won the Adonis in good style at Kempton and could be one to bounce back granted he gets the pace he needs.

Betfred Bowl (2.50)

Likely to be a question of ‘how far’ for Cue Card backers with the first two from the Gold Cup going to Punchestown. The form figures for the highest placed horse from Cheltenham here are P312FF5241 (2-3-10) and 6 of these 10 were sent off favourite. It’s dependent upon who turns up as to whether Cue Card can be taken on. Don Poli was outpaced in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Smad Place was forced to go too fast. Irish Cavalier isn’t good enough and neither is Wakanda or O’Faolains Boy. The entries are likely to tell all, in showing us who is able to challenge the favourite.

Aintree Hurdle (3.25)

It is likely that Annie Power will come here, and if that is the case, then she should be too good for this field following a romp in the Champion Hurdle. This is her trip – and probably her track too, and a light season only helps her chances of not bouncing. The recent records of the highest placed finisher from the Champion Hurdle are: F2320173511, so backers probably have little to worry about. Nichols Canyon ran a fine race at Cheltenham, and won the Mersey Novices’ here last year in fine style, but it is hard to imagine him reversing the form. More interesting might be The New One, who has been crying out for this trip for a good while and could be seen to much better effect. A close second in the Aintree Hurdle behind Zarkandar in 2012, this is long overdue for him and he could be an each/way shout. Different Gravey, a sensational winner of a good handicap hurdle on his return (when tipped up as a JPFestival.com Saturday Steamer), could be the fly in the ointment, especially having missed the Festival.

Foxhunters (4.05)

Victoria Pendleton took the headlines with a fast finishing fifth on Pacha Du Polder at Cheltenham but whereas his stamina was a doubt for Cheltenham, it most definitely isn’t here. He was well beaten by On The Fringe when the two met here last year but the gap looked to have closed notable between the two when they met at Cheltenham and under different tactics he can easily reverse that form back under Will Biddick. On The Fringe has to be respected in his bid to retain his title, and he was back to his best at Cheltenham to hold off a multitude of challengers in the Foxhunters. He was even more impressive here last year, but he had very little in hand at the end of the Cheltenham race and looks very short at 6/4 to confirm superiority of less than three lengths over five horses. Marito, if taking to these fences, is a sound each/way bet at 8/1, whilst Paint The Clouds was also making ground hand over fist.

Red Rum Handicap Chase (4.40)

The Grand Annual provided the only real turnup of the week with Solar Impulse winning and the record of the winner trying to follow up here is respectable, along with those placed. Raw speed and front running tends to be the name of the game here, and Arzal does those better than most. His form from earlier in the season with Ar Mad and others looks better after the Arkle, and with a mark of 149 he Is fairly treated. Novices have taken four recent runnings of this, and the record of those highly rated is not too bad. Most winners had run within the last 35 days – 9 of the last 10 have – so look within that age range, and those with returning course form. Half of the last 10 winners had ran at the previous Aintree Festival.

Aintree Handicap Hurdle (5.15)

Five of the last 6 winners ran in March and many step up from the Coral Cup – like Tagliatelle last year – or the Pertemps, which gave the second and fourth last year. Tagietelle could go again, having finished fourth in the Pertemps this year when If In Doubt suffered a rough passage through the race and will most likely be very popular if sent here. Several from the Pertemps could make the step up plus it’s worth looking through the qualifiers, notably the ones that take place at Doncaster on SkyBet Chase day (won by Nicky Henderson’s Sugar Baron) and also Exeter on the day of their Listed Novice Hurdle (won this year by Unowhatimeanharry). If running, Sugar Baron would be of considerable interest.

Nina Carberry is at the fore of Grand National news currently after it was revealed that the female amatuer jockey has been banned from taking part in the Crabbie’s Grand National this year. The 31 year old National Hunt rider is renowned throughout the sporting world after securing a win at the Cheltenham Festival in 2005, with her success continuing thereafter by winning the Irish Grand National in 2011, and her Crabbie’s Fox Hunters’ Chase 2015 victory. Most recently she has secured yet another accomplishment by taking first place in the St James’s Place Foxhunt Chase at Cheltenham with 11 year old On the Fringe. Having beaten notable jockeys such as Olympic personality Victoria Pendelton, it appeared that the Irish jockey firmly had the Grand National in her sights once again. Carberry has taken part at the Aintree event a total of five times, four of which she finished, however, she has never managed to win the primary steeplechase race. If she was to be successful she would be the first female jockey to do so, and as she is one of the most experienced amongst her fellow female riders, the chance for victory doesn’t seem unreasonable. That being said, this year’s Grand National is not to be, after reports that Carberry has received a seven day ban that will finish on Grand National Day. The irony of her ban is that her participation with First Lieutenant was only possible due to another jockey being suspended for a whip related incident. This time however, the whipping offence falls upon herself. There is a lot that could still change between now and when Grand Opening Day comes round on April 7th, which is why it is wise for fans and punters alike to keep abreast of all the latest news and visit Coral’s Grand National coverage page. By utilising information given by such well established brands, spectators are sure to make informed decisions based on the best tips available. What is more, it can also alert you to last minute changes, such as those being experienced by Sam Waley-Cohen. It appears that Nina Carberry is not alone in the last minute bans, as the 33 year old Cheltenham Gold Cup winner has also received a suspension that risks his Grand National involvement. The ban was set in place after the stewards decision that the rider prematurely slowed down, therefore causing him to end fifth instead of third. When asked about what happened, Waley-Cohen stated that he had the welfare of his family bred horse in mind, and will therefore appeal against the ruling.

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